haematopoiesis, stem cells and bone marrow Flashcards

1
Q

what are pluripotent stem cells

A

completelty undifferentiated stem cells - can form any tissue in the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what kind of stem cells are harmatopoietic stem cells

A

multi potent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

where are adult haematopoietic stem cells found

A

bone marrow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

haematopoetic stem cell differentiation pathways (3)

A
  1. stem cell -> myeloid stem cell -> myeloblast -> granulocytes (eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils etc.);
  2. stem cell -> myeloid stem cell -> RBC;
  3. stem cell -> lymphoid stem cell -> lymphoblast -> B/T lymphocyte, NK cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

where is blood formed in the foetus

A

yolk sac

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what is red marrow

A

the bone marrow that contains blood stem cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what happens to red marrow as ppl age

A

it is replaced by yellow marrow (fatty tissue) and haematopoiesis is restricted to the axial skeleton

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what is extramedullary haematopoeisis and when does to occur

A

when the liver and spleen are recruited to produce blood cells (yellow marrow may also be converted back to red); occurs under stress e.g. myelofibrosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is myelofibrosis

A

bone marrow cancer that leads to the occupation of bone marrow space with fibrotic tissue -> no space for blood cell production and so body compensates by producing it else where (liver, spleen) -> enlargement of these organs is seen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what are platelets formed from

A

they are small particles of cytoplasm that have budded off from megakaryocyte cells (they are not themselves cells)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

2 common properties of stem cells

A

the ability to self re-new; ability to differentiate into more specialised cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what determines the function of the stem cell (proliferation vs specialisation)

A

the micro environment - growth factors and interactions with neighboring cells determine the type of cell division the stem cell undergoes (symmetric to form specialised cells or asymmetric for self renerwal)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

components of the blood in a centrifuge (bottom to top)

A

erythrocytes (45%) -> buffy coat (platelets +WBCs) ->plasma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

volume of blood in an avg man/women

A

man - 5/6L
women - 4/5L depending on body size, during pregnancy this can increase by 50%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

features of a neutrophil on a blood film

A

purple granules; lobed nucleus (2-5 lobes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

features of an eosinophil on a blood film

A

large cell, brick-red granules (acidic stain taken up), lobed nucleus (2 lobes)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

features of a basophil on a blood film

A

stain blue (basic stain taken up)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

features of a lymphocyte on a blood film

A

small; small spherical nucleus which stains darkly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

features of a monocyte on a blood film

A

largest WBC, kidney bean shaped nucleus, abundant cytoplasm with pink/purple granules, vacuole often present

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what are the important haematopoietic growth factors (4)

A
  1. erythropoetin -rbc production, released from kidney;
  2. thrombopoetin - produced by liver and kidney;
  3. granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) - produced by endothelium;
  4. interleukins/cytokines - released by immune cells to promote further immune cell differentiation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what causes stimulation of erythropoietin

A

low blood oxygen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what suppresses erythropoietin synthesis

A

increase in oxygen carrying capacity of the blood (incr. O2 levels)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

2 causes of high blood counts

A

primary - abnormal bone marrow and the usual mechanisms that control cell production/inhibit proliferation have been overcome i.e. cancer;

secondary - normal bone marrow that is being stimulated by environmental factors to produce more cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

leucocytosis causes (primary, secondary)

A

primary - clonal stem cell disorder, usually in pts w leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloproliferative disorders;

secondary - response to environment e.g. infection, chronic inflammation states, post infarction, other tumours

25
Q

causes of thrombocytosis (primary, secondary)

A

primary - thrombocythemia (clonal cell disorder);
secondary - response to environment e.g. infection, inflammation, infarction, tumour

26
Q

what is primary thrombocytosis treated with

A

a chemotherapy agent - hydroxycarbamide (+ aspirin due to incr risk of thrombosis)

27
Q

what is the haematocrit (+usual value)

A

the ratio of RBCs to total blood volume - usually 40-45%

28
Q

polycythemia vs erythrocytosis

A

polycythemia - any increase in hematocrit and/or hemoglobin;
erythrocytosis - an increase specifically in the number of red blood cells in the blood

29
Q

what is a pt at risk of with polycythemia

A

increase risk of thrombosis - blood is thicker

30
Q

what is apparent polycythemia and what are its causes (4)

A

a raised Hct despite a normal/minimally raised red cell volume due to a reduced plasma volume;
causes - smoking, excess alcohol, drugs (diuretics), being overweight

31
Q

causes of erythrocytosis (primary, secondary)

A

primary - polycythemia vera (mutuaiton in JAK2 gene);
secondary - raised erythropoietin levels due to low O2 (e.g. COPD), tumours (some secrete epo, esp lung and renal), doping, high affinity Hb variant

32
Q

how is polycythemia vera treated

A

hydroxycarbamide + aspirin or venesection + aspirin

33
Q

2 main causes of low blood cell counts

A
  1. underproduction
  2. reduced survival in circulation
34
Q

causes of leukocytopenia

A

underporduction - drugs affecting stem cells, part of pancytopenia due to marrow failure;
reduced survivial - autoimmune, drugs, consumption (while fighting an infection), combination (e.g. viral hepatitis)

35
Q

causes of Thrombocytopenia

A

underproduction - drugs affecting stem cells, liver failure (↓TPO produciton), part of pancytopenia due to marrow failure;
peripheral destruction - autoimmune (e.g. ITP), hypersplenism, drugs (e.g. NSAIDs), infection/inflammation/sepsis

36
Q

6 malignant conditions that cause reduced blood cell production (+2 other non malignant causes)

A
  1. myeloma (plasma cells);
  2. myelodysplasia (myeloid cells);
  3. metastatic malignancy;
  4. myelofibrosis (haemopoetic stem cells);
  5. leukaemia (WBCs, over produciton of one type is a detriment to all others)
  6. lymphoma (lymphocytes + lymphatic system)
  7. aplastic anaemia (empty bone marrow due to stem cell failure)
  8. haematinic deficiency (check for B12/folate levles)
37
Q

what defines acute myeloid leukemia on a blood film

A

the presence of myeloblasts - immature precursors that get stuck in this point of differentiation

38
Q

what are the myeloid cell malignancies (important!)

A

immature cells (blasts) - acute myeloid leukaemia;
mature cells - myeloproliferative disorders (polycythemia vera, chronic myeloid leukemia, essential thrombocythaemia, myelofibrosis), myelodysplasia

39
Q

lymphoid cell malignancies (important!!)

A

immature cells - acute lymphoblastic leukaemia;
mature cells - chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma

40
Q

what is special about myelodysplasia

A

there is abnormal maturation and proliferation (not just one)

41
Q

what causes aplastic anaemia

A

damage to pluripotent/multipotent stem cell by drugs, viruses, radiation, immune suppression etc.

42
Q

aplastic anaemia blood test findings

A

pancytopenia, reduced reticulocyte count

43
Q

myelofibrosis pathophys

A

malignant proliferation of reticulin fibres in bone marrow resulting in anaemia + splenomegaly

44
Q

what is seen on a myelofibrosis blood film

A

leucoerythroblastic blood film - immature RBCs and WBCs in the peripheral blood

45
Q

what can myelofibrosis develop secondary to

A

myeloproliferative neoplasms -> thye pt may have had polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia first

46
Q

what can myelofibrosis transform into

A

myeloid leukaemia

47
Q

4 causes of low blood count with normal bone marrow (i.e. reduced cell survival cause)

A
  1. immune cellular destruciton;
  2. drugs;
  3. haemorrhage;
  4. hypersplenism
48
Q

examples of autoimmune conditions resulting in low blood counts (3)

A

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP); AIHA; autoimmune neutropenia

49
Q

what is an auer rod

A

pink needle-shaped structures resulting from an abnormal fusion of azurophilic granules - typically found in acute myeloid leukemia

50
Q

4 causes for hyposplenism

A
  1. splenectomy (therapeutic for a blood disorder, trauma);
  2. auto-infarction (sickle cell);
  3. infiltration (metastatic malignancy);
  4. underfunctioning (e.g. coeliac disease)
51
Q

what is the hallmark of hyposplenism on a blood film

A

Howell-Jolly bodies (remnants of RBC nuclei that are normally removed by the spleen)

52
Q

8 causes of neutrophilia

A
  1. bacterial infection;
  2. inflammatory conditions;
  3. burns;
  4. cigarette smoking;
  5. steroids;
  6. granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF);
  7. solid tumours;
  8. myeloproliferative disorders (CML etc.)
53
Q

how does chronic myeloid leukemia cause neutrophilia

A

expansion of the myeloid lineage which results in neutrophiliaa

54
Q

6 causes of lymphocytosis

A
  1. viral infection (EBV) - most common;
  2. hyposplenism;
  3. TB;
  4. brucellosis;
  5. CLL;
  6. lymphoma with “spillover”
55
Q

5 causes of eosinophilia

A
  1. allergic reactions;
  2. vasculitis;
  3. drugs;
  4. worm infestations;
  5. cancer
56
Q

why should blood test results be compared to past tests

A

to see if the abnormality is new or lifelong

57
Q

what is aquagenic pruritus and what is it associated with

A

a skin disease characterized by the development of severe itching on contact with water without observable skin lesions - assoicated with polycythemia (rubra) vera

58
Q

what can cause failure of blood cell production (4)

A
  1. hornome deficiency;
  2. marrow infiltration;
  3. toxic effects of alcohol/infection/drugs;
  4. marrow aplasia
59
Q

what can cause ineffective blood cell production (4)

A
  1. iron deficiency;
  2. B12/folate deficiency;
  3. myelodysplasia;
  4. thalassaemia major